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ACT Test Dates for 2025-2026
By
Will Geiger
Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Scholarship Services at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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Standardized tests, such as the ACT, are important parts of the scholarship application process for both college-specific merit scholarship and private scholarships. The first step to achieving a strong score on the ACT is by actually signing up for the ACT! We’ve collected all of the ACT test dates for you on this page.
Overview of the 2025-2026 ACT test dates
- February 8, 2025
- April 5, 2025
- June 14, 2025
- July 12, 2025
Students can register for any of the 2025-2026 ACT Test dates on the ACT website.
Breaking down the 2025/2026 SAT test dates and deadlines
February Test Date
- February 8, 2025
- Registration Deadline: January 3, 2025
- Late Registration Deadline: January 20, 2025
April Test Date
- April 5, 2025
- Registration Deadline: February 28, 2025
- Late Registration Deadline: March 16, 2025
June Test Date
- June 14, 2025
- Registration Deadline: May 9, 2025
- Late Registration Deadline: May 26, 2025
July Test Date
- July 12, 2025*
- Registration Deadline: June 6, 2025
- Late Registration Deadline: June 20, 2025
*There are no test centers scheduled in New York for the July test date
Related: What are guaranteed scholarships based on ACT/SAT?
Most test experts recommend that you finish your junior year of high school with at least one official testing under your belt. Remember, you can take either the ACT or the SAT–both are equally accepted by college admissions offices.
Looking ahead to 2026
| Test Date | Regular Registration Deadline Late Fee Applies After This Date |
Late Registration Deadline | Photo Upload and Standby Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 6, 2025 | August 1 | August 19 | August 29 |
| October 18, 2025 | September 12 | September 30 | October 10 |
| December 13, 2025 | November 7 | November 24 | December 5 |
| February 14, 2026 | January 7 | January 21 | February 6 |
| April 11, 2026 | March 6 | March 24 | April 3 |
| June 13, 2026 | May 8 | May 27 | June 5 |
| July 11, 2026* | June 5 | June 24 | July 3 |
*No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date
Choosing between the ACT and SAT
Choosing between the ACT and SAT is a common dilemma for students, as each test differs from the other. Make sure you explore what each test has to offer and ask yourself some of the questions below to get a feel for which exam might be best suited to you!
Ask yourself:
- What are my academic strengths and weaknesses?
- What subjects do I find that I enjoy studying most?
- What classes do I consistently receive good grades in?
How much the ACT costs
The ACT doesn’t come without a price tag. However, there are ways that you can receive a fee waiver, which will cover the cost of your exam. Check with your school about whether you qualify for a fee waiver. The 2025-2026 fees are below.
| Cost | |
| ACT | $65 |
| Writing add-on | $25 |
| Science add-on | $4 |
From: ACT official website
Sending your ACT scores to colleges
When you take the ACT, you will be able to send your scores directly to the college or university that you want to attend. You can typically send your score to up to four colleges at no additional cost, but this does not mean you have to send your score to four schools, or any at all. Remember, if you get a score you aren’t satisfied with, you can retake the ACT as well.
Resources for students
If you are preparing to take the ACT, there is a lot of work to be done, and we could spend time talking about a dozen other aspects of the ACT. Continue to explore free resources available to you for studying, and how to choose the best tutor. Also, take some time to look at what score is a good score, what a superscore is and what score you may want to aim to earn. If you need free ACT test prep, we can point you in the right direction. Remember, you’ve got this!
Next Steps
Frequently asked questions about ACT test dates
How long is the ACT test?
When can I take the ACT?